(1st Meeting) Committee on Science and Technology - UNCCD COP17

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I declare open the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology and call to order its first meeting. Before proceeding, I would like to inform the committee that following a letter sent on 6th of May, 2025 by the United States of America, in line with rule 25 of the rules of procedure of the conference, I have replaced Mr. Jeffrey Herrick, who is elected at COP 16 to serve as chair of CST 17. I will serve as chair until the end of the 17th session. I now invite the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Ms. Yasmeen Fouad, to deliver welcoming remarks.

Thank you, Chair. Good morning, distinguished delegates, friends and colleagues. A very good morning and a sunny morning in the beautiful city of Ulaanbaatar. and thank you for allowing me to be here in the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology. Mongolia has been offering a powerful setting for all of us, starting from a land stewardship to a pastoralist parade to a resilience of its people and its community. And also, Mongolia has been witnessing one of the things that we will be discussing among the CST, which is the growing pressures of aridity, of drought and desert on rangeland and herders community. So I'd like to start by thanking the government of Mongolia and the COP presidency for their hospitality. The CST comes at a very critical time of the convention, playing a central role. in order to provide the best available evidence and science. And this role is particularly very important now with so much of uncertainty that is happening around the world. Having this CST Committee is very important to this process. I'd like to thank the CST Bureau and the SBI members for their dedication, their commitment to the work, during the period of the institutional transition. Throughout the meeting, there will be various things that will be discussed, starting from the new guidance on aridity and drought adaptation developed across the Rio Convention and Sendai Framework. We exerted so much effort on that. Progress on the knowledge sharing and the technology transfer and innovation. persistent scientific and technical gaps, including the monitoring of degradation in hyper-arid areas and integrating the SLM and LDN approaches in the carbon farming in Central Asia. We will also look at the FAO supported guidance on avoiding reducing and reversing degradation of agricultural land and soil. But it is also important within those issues that we will be discussing at the technical and at the scientific level is to strengthen the science and policy interface. A key task is to establish an institutional foundation of our SBI from 2027 onwards. This will include deeply discussing the membership, the governance, prioritization of requests, delivery of flagship and fast track products. The objective here is to be stronger, more responsive, effective, efficient science policy interface serving all parties. It's also important to look how in this world with so much of an interconnection of global environmental challenges that's even decoupled with economic and social ones to connect land science across different agendas. Considering the SBI sinuses of the global land outlook and relevant EBES assessment, strengthening the understanding of the interlinkage between land biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate nexus, and draw the evidence around transformative change and integrated land stewardship. We would look also, and this has been discussed yesterday in the CRIC, on better reporting through better evidence. The more evidence, the more science, the more knowledge and data that we would be able to provide, the more better and improved reporting and monitoring that we will be able to give. And from the science and the monitoring and the reporting, we need to move into a robust, effective and efficient decision-making process. The work of the CST must ultimately translate the draft decisions that the parties would like to adopt, as well as encourage an open, constructive and forward-looking discussion. My closing remark would be It is important to listen, to have an open dialogue and also to learn from one another. But we need also to accelerate implementation and that can only be done by drawing on the best available knowledge, technology, innovation and focus on how best can we replicate and upscale. And finally, science must help us continue to take better decisions today for a more resilient landscapes tomorrow. I thank you.

I thank the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Thank you. I will now deliver a statement in my capacity as Chair of the 17th Session of the Committee on Science and Technology. Executive Secretary, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, representatives of observer organizations, members of the science policy interface, colleagues and friends. It is an honor to welcome you to the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology and to open our work here in Ulaanbaatar. I'd like to begin by thanking the government and people of Mongolia for their generous hospitality. What a beautiful place for this committee to meet. In managed lands around the world, the connections among soil, vegetation, water, climate, and human decisions are visible in the landscape. Change in one part of the system is rarely contained there. Its effects travel across watersheds, across livelihood systems and increasingly across national borders. Those who work on the land also learn a second lesson. Good decisions depend on observations over time. A single measurement can be informative but is rarely sufficient. We need consistent methods, trusted data, local knowledge, and the patience to understand change before we can respond effectively. Experience has also shown that information becomes valuable only when it can be interpreted and used by people responsible for managing land. These lessons are highly relevant to the work before us. During this session, we must connect global assessments with national circumstances. scientific knowledge with practical experience, technological innovation with institutional capacity, and long-term ambition with decisions that can be acted upon now. Our agenda gives us several opportunities to do so. We have the opportunity to consider the work of the science policy interface, including its substantial progress developing the third edition of the Global Land Outlook. The proposed land stewardship framing asks us to look beyond land management as a collection of technical interventions. It invites us to consider how societies understand and value land, how institutions and incentives shape decisions, and how practices are adapted to the realities of particular landscapes. That framing resonates with a fundamental feature of land systems. There is no universal prescription. A measure that succeeds in one place may fail in another because soils, climate, tenure arrangements, livelihoods, or institutional capacities differ. Scientific guidance must therefore be rigorous without becoming detached from context. It must identify general principles while leaving room for locally adapted solutions. We will also have the opportunity to discuss the interconnections among land, water, food, health and climate. The evidence increasingly tells us that isolated interventions are unlikely to be sufficient. Sustainable land management, restoration, water management, and drought resilience can reinforce one another, particularly when they are designed together at appropriate scales and with attention to possible trade-offs. The agenda item on aridity and drought offers a practical example. Aridity and drought are related, but they are not the same. Effective planning requires us to understand both long-term changes in water availability and shorter-term drought events, and to connect that understanding with national planning instruments. Our discussions on knowledge sharing and innovation raise another practical question. How do we ensure that knowledge reaches those who need it? Digital platforms, earth observation, modelling and artificial intelligence create significant possibilities. Yet technology alone does not close a knowledge gap. Tools must be transparent, accessible, appropriate to national circumstances and supported by the capacity to use and interpret them. The same principle applies to reporting. Comparable global information is essential, but so is national ownership. The strongest monitoring systems are those in which common standards and country-specific data complement one another. grounded in an understanding of land potential. Our joint discussion with the CRIC should therefore help us consider not only the quality of reported data, but also how reporting can serve planning, learning, and decision-making within countries. Agricultural lands and soils will be another major focus. Here, the land degradation neutrality response hierarchy provides a disciplined starting point. First, avoid degradation, then reduce ongoing degradation, and reverse past degradation where necessary and achievable. This sequence matters. Restoration cannot substitute indefinitely for preventing avoidable damage. In croplands and rangelands alike, prevention is often more effective, less costly, and more durable. Finally, we have the opportunity to consider the future functioning of the science policy interface. The question is not simply what structure we establish, but what kind of scientific evidence parties need. The SPI must be able to make major assessments with full scientific rigor, respond more rapidly to emerging requests, cooperate effectively with other scientific bodies, and communicate its findings in forms that support decisions. As chair, I will seek to ensure that our discussions are inclusive, focused, and fair. I would also like us to listen for knowledge that may be expressed differently from our own. Scientific publications, national data sets, indigenous knowledge, and the observations of land users and land stewards can illuminate different parts of the same system. Our task is to assess them carefully and bring them into a coherent basis for advice. Colleagues, a productive CST session is one in which evidence is tested, perspectives are heard, and complexity is translated into useful guidance. We have a demanding agenda and limited time, so let us therefore work with curiosity, precision and respect. I look forward to guiding our discussions and to working with you to provide the Conference of the Parties with recommendations that are credible, practical and worthy of the trust placed in this committee. Thank you. Distinguished delegates, the floor is now open to representatives of regional and interest groups to make brief statements. Delegations wishing to deliver a statement are invited to press the microphone button. In the interest of time, statements are limited to three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt on behalf of the African Group.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the CST, Madam Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, distinguished representatives, delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the African group, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the government and people of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and excellent organization. Mr. Chair, Please be assured of the Africans full support and constructive cooperation. And we congratulated you for your election at the chair of the CST. The African group reaffirms its strong support for the Committee of Science and Technology and recognize that science, innovation and knowledge are essential to advancing implementation of the UNCCD and addressing drought. desertification and land degradation. At the same time, science must be enriched by indigenous and local knowledge. Africa poses with the world's knowledge developed over generations, which must be recognized as a legitimate and complementary source of evidence and reflected in the CST program of work. Bridging scientific and traditional knowledge together will strengthen resilience, adaptation, and restoring through solutions that are locally appropriate and effective. For Africa, drought and aridity are not merely environmental stresses or challenges. They directly threaten food and water scarcity, livelihoods, and sustainable development. We therefore retreats Africa steadfast position in favor advancing towards a legally binding international framework on drought, providing a comprehensive basis for preparedness, prevention, response, and adaptation, particularly for countries and communities in vulnerable situations. We must move decisively from reaction to prevention, strengthen forecasting, early warning systems, preparedness and resilience before drought impacts accelerate into disaster. Africa also calls for stronger technology transfer, capacity building, adequate financing and equitable access to affordable and appropriate technologies. Alongside, sustained support for Africa's scientific institution and expertise. Africa must be full and equal partner in generating knowledge, setting priorities and shaping policies, not merely a recipient of world knowledge produced elsewhere. We further stress that land restoration must remain firmly linked to food security, water management, drought resilience and livelihoods. We support stronger synergies between Rio conventions and the standardized framework while avoiding additional reporting burdens for the developing countries. Mr. Chair, our message is clear. Africa is not calling for lower ambition, but greater ambition implementation. We need accessible science, accessible technologies, stronger capacities, adequate finance, and stronger international response to drought. We expect 2027-2030 science policy international framework program to reflect these priorities and ensure full African magnificence participation. Ultimately, the success of the UNSSD will not be measured by the number of reports we adopted, but the lands we restored, the communities we protect, the livelihood we secured, and our capacity to withstand drought and strengthen food security. Africa stands ready to transport science into action, knowledge into solutions, and commitments into tangible results on the ground. And thank you, sir.

I thank the representative of Egypt on behalf of the African group. I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia on behalf of the regional implementation annex for the Asia Pacific annex 3.

Mr. Chair, Excellency, distinguished delegates, Indonesia is pleased to be delivering this opening statement on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group at the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology. At the outset, we also express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Mongolia for its warm hospitality and to the Executive Secretariat, the Secretariat, the Science Policy Interface and all partners whose dedication has prepared the ground for our deliberation. Mr. Chair, as the Convention enters a new strategic phase, science assumes an even more important responsibility, not simply to expand knowledge, but to inform action. The Asia Pacific group consider CST-17 to be a critical opportunity to ensure that scientific knowledge innovation and technology continue to strengthen implementation of the Convention and inform the development of future strategic framework that is responsive to the realities of affected parties. Scientific knowledge must remain inclusive, interdisciplinary, and adaptable to differing ecological and socio-economic contexts. The accelerating impact of desertification, sand and dust storms, land degradation, drought, extreme climatic events, and increasing pressure on land and water resources demand a stronger science policy interface than ever before. The Asia Pacific Group therefore believes that the role of science must evolve beyond the generation of knowledge alone. Science should be integration of technical and indigenous knowledge, and increasingly support evidence-based decision making, strengthen national planning, improve monitoring and early warning system, inform investment and accelerate implementation on the ground. In this regard, we attach particular importance to the continued work of the science policy interface for further bridging scientific research and policy development under the convention. We encourage continued effort to ensure that its work remain policy relevant, multidisciplinary, and responsive to the emerging priorities identified by the Parties. The forthcoming Global Land Outlook represents another important opportunity to strengthen the scientific foundation of the Convention. We encourage its continued development as an assessment that integrates the best available science with practical experience from affected parties, providing decision makers with accessible knowledge such as sand and dust storm drought and land degradation. Mr. Chair, the Asia Pacific group believes that the Convention must continue to embrace scientific innovation while recognizing that the technology is most valuable when it improves implementation. Advances in scientific techniques provide unprecedented opportunities to improve monitoring, support restoration, planning and strengthen drought preparedness. At the same time, this innovation should be accompanied by enhanced technology transfer, technical cooperation and capacity building so that all parties are able to benefit from emerging scientific advances. Our vision also emphasizes the importance of integrating multiple knowledge systems in different languages, scientific research, traditional knowledge, and the experience of indigenous people and of local communities, each provide valuable perspective for sustainable land management. Strengthening dialogues among these knowledge systems will improve the relevance, effectiveness, and inclusiveness of scientific advice while supporting nationality appropriate implementation. Regional scientific cooperation should likewise become an increasingly important pillar of the Convention work. The Asia-Pacific region has demonstrated the value of collaboration among universities, research institutions, centres of excellence and technical works in addressing shared challenges and closing the gap between science, and policy making. Strengthening this partnership will accelerate innovation, promote peer learning, and facilitate the exchange of practical solutions across parties facing different ecological and development circumstances. The region considers that the scope of support hubs created to support Parties in UNCCD 2026 national reporting process might be enhanced to include broad-based scientific cooperation and implementation of the Convention. Distinguished delegates, the Asia Pacific support a strong, transparent and regionally responsive science policy interface. Innovation should include the adaptation of proven practices, traditional knowledge, institutional innovation, and cooperation that strengthen risk management, develop early warning system and impact assessment to support comprehensive scientific planning and allows the solution to travel across borders while remaining locally grounded. Agricultural land deserves particular attention. Land degradation across our region threatens farming communities, food systems, and rural economics. We support science-based information to avoid, reduce, and reverse land and soil degradation in agricultural areas, including attention to the soil health and fertility, water conservation, locally appropriate sustainable land management, and the revival of effective traditional systems. Monitoring must be credible, but also capable of reflecting diverse conditions such as in arid, semi-arid, and hyper-arid zones, where vegetation is highly seasonal and short growth cycles can distort assessments. The future monitoring framework should therefore preserve and clarify flexibility to for parties to use additional or alternative indicator where relevant. And it should support further testing of methodology, communities of practice and differentiated technical guidance for special ecological circumstances. Mr. Chair, The Asia-Pacific Group also wishes to underline the importance of strengthening scientific understanding of drought risk, improving early warning system, enhancing impact assessment, and advancing integrated drought resilience strategies. which will be essential as the convention looks beyond 2030. Similarly, continued scientific cooperation on sand and dust storms, including for source mapping, atmospheric monitoring, forecasting, and transboundary collaboration will strengthen regional resilience and contribute to more effective policy responses. As we contribute to the development of the post-2030 future strategic framework, we believe that science should help shape a convention that is implementation-oriented, adaptive, and forward-looking. Scientific excellence should be measured not only by the quality of research produced, but by its ability to support restoration, conservation, strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods, and deliver measurable benefit for affected parties. The Asia Pacific group remain committed to working constructively with all parties, the scientific policy interface, the secretariat, and the wider scientific community to ensure that the CST 17 advances knowledge that inform policy, support implementation and strengthen the Convention for the decade ahead. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Indonesia on behalf of the Regional Implementation Annex for the Asia Pacific. I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Moldova on behalf of the Regional Implementation Annex for Central and Eastern Europe.

Thank you. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the parties of Central and Eastern European Region, Annex V, I am pleased to address the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. I would like to express our appreciation to the government and people of Mongolia for hosting CST17 and for providing an important platform for the international scientific community to advance cooperation on desertification, land degradation and drought, as well as the UNCCD Secretariat for the successful organization of COP17. We also express our appreciation to the Secretariat, the Global Mechanism and the members of the Science-Policy Interface for their continued efforts to strengthen the scientific basis of the implementation of the Convention. Science, knowledge and evidence-based decision-making remain at the core of effective implementation of the UNCCD. The accelerating impacts of drought, land and soil degradation require that scientific knowledge is translated into practical policies, technologies and measures that can be implemented at national and local levels. In this regard, we attach particular importance to the agenda item on interfacing science and policy and sharing knowledge. We believe that CSC should continue to serve as an effective bridge between scientific knowledge, policy development and implementation on the ground. We welcome the work on supplementary technical guidance to support aridity and drought planning and adaptation across the Rio Convention and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Strengthening coherence among this framework in planning assessment and monitoring while building on existing national instruments rather than creating parallel processes can significantly improve national capacity for drought preparedness, risk reduction and adaptation and help to reduce duplication and additional reporting burdens. For the Annex V region, this issue is particular relevance. Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, while changing precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures are placing additional pressure on agriculture system, water resources, forest and ecosystems. We therefore encourage the further development and dissemination of science-based drought planning, early warning systems, vulnerability and impact assessments, risk monitoring and anticipatory approaches supported by improved collection, availability and exchange of drought related data. Particular attention should be given to translating monitoring and early warning information into timely and practical decision making while strengthening regional cooperation, including on transboundary river basin and water resources. Greater regional and interregional exchange of experience would also contribute to strengthening global drought resilience. We welcome the attention given to knowledge sharing, technology transfer and innovation. The successful implementation of the Convention requires not only the generation of scientific knowledge, but also its effective transfer to countries, institutions, practitioners and local communities. In this regard, we encourage the CST, the SPI and other relevant bodies of the Convention to promote mechanisms for sharing good practices, scientific methodologies, data, technologies and innovative solutions. while taking into account regional and national circumstances and different technical and institutional capacities. We also attach great importance to avoiding, reducing and reversing land and soil degradation. Sustainable agricultural land management is essential for food security, rural livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and resilience to drought and climate change. Scientific approaches to soil health, sustainable land management, restoration of degraded agricultural lands, water efficient practices and climate resilient agriculture should therefore be further promoted and integrated into national policies, particularly approaches that improve soil functionality and water retention, reduce degradation and strengthen the capacity of agricultural system to withstand drought and other climate extremes. We believe that CST should continue to encourage the development and dissemination of practical solutions that can be adapted to different ecosystems and socio-economic conditions. In particular, the experience of countries and regions facing increasing drought and soil degradation can provide valuable lessons for wider application. The future functioning of the science-policy interface is another important issue before CST17. We support efforts to ensure that SPI remains an effective, credible, inclusive and science-based mechanism. In this context, we consider it important that the future SPI maintains a clear connection with the CST while strengthening its capacity to provide timely, relevant and policy-oriented scientific advice that respond to clearly identified needs of parties and support practical implementation at national levels. We also emphasize the importance of balanced regional representation and broad participation of scientific experts in the work of the SPI. The diversity of scientific perspective and regional experiences is essential for developing solutions that are relevant across different ecosystem and geographical regions. We welcome the preparation of the third edition of the Global Land Outlook and consider this report as an important instrument for improving the understanding of land degradation trends, restoration opportunities and pathways towards sustainable land management. In this context, we propose to devote the next flagship report to the assessment of the global status of land's terrestrial ecosystem based on data collected from the national reports and the recent scientific studies, including data on achieving LDN. Looking ahead to the 2027-2030 work program of the science policy interface, we encourage the prioritization of issues where scientific evidence can have the greatest practical impact on the implementation of the convention, including drought monitoring, vulnerability and impact assessment, drought resilience, integrated soil and water management, land and soil restoration, sustainable agriculture land management, ecosystem restoration and innovative approaches to the land degradation neutrality. We also believe that the regional and interregional scientific cooperation should be further strengthened. Scientific conferences, expert networks, joint research initiatives and knowledge sharing platforms can provide valuable opportunities for scientists and practitioners to exchange experience and develop solutions tailored to different regions. The Annex V region has considerably scientific and practical experience across a range of areas, including drought management, afforestation, sustainable forest management, restoration of degraded lands, It lands soil management, land and water monitoring, and in parts of region, monitoring and mitigation of sand and dust storms. We remain ready to share this experience and contribute to the global scientific knowledge based of the convention. We further emphasize the importance of strengthening cooperation between the UNCCD and other relevant scientific mechanism, intergovernmental bodies and international organization. Enhanced cooperation can avoid duplication, improve the use of available scientific knowledge and support coherent implementation of the Rio Convention and other relevant international frameworks. They propose to consider the re-establishment of the Institute of the UNCCD scientific conferences to provide an opportunity to discuss the critical issues of the UNCCD scientific support at the global level. Distinguished delegates, the challenges addressed by the UNCCD are increasingly complex and interconnected. Scientific knowledge must therefore become more accessible, actionable and closely connected to decision making. We believe that CST17 provides an important opportunity to further strengthen the role of science, technology and innovation in implementing the convention and ensure that scientific outcomes lead to concrete action on the ground. The Annex V region stands ready to engage constructively in the discussions and to contribute to the CST, the science policy interface and international scientific cooperation. We wish all participants of CST17, CRIC24 and COP17 productive discussions and successful outcomes. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of the Republic of Moldova on behalf of the regional implementation annex for Central and Eastern Europe. I now give the floor to the representative of Uzbekistan on behalf of the interregional group Central Asia, Russia.

Thank you, Chair.

I am continuing Russia.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished Chair of the CST, colleagues, it's a great honour for me to speak on behalf of the interregional group bringing together states of Central Asia and the Russian Federation. We greatly appreciate the role of the CST as a key mechanism providing the connection between science and policy under the convention. It is science-based decisions based on best global knowledge adapted to the realities of specific regions that allows us effectively to fight desertification, land degradation and droughts. Let me begin by acknowledging that the countries in our group in recent years have achieved major progress, specifically thanks to integrating science into land resource management practice. We work to a agreed roadmap of the interregional group which is focused on areas such as achieving and monitoring LDN, based on national land-based data, studying and mitigating consequences of sand and dust storms, including transboundary dispersion of aerosols, sustainable management of rangeland ecosystems, both lowland and mountain, introducing pasture rotation and community forms of management, preserving glaciers and integrated water resource management as the main food and the basis for food and environmental security, developing remote monitoring and digital platforms, harmonizing normative legal approaches to soil conservation and stimulating restorative practices, and also creating educational programs and upskilling of personnel at all levels, from rangeland committees to national coordinators. Moreover, the roadmap recently has included expanded participation of NGOs and the private sector through voluntary certification mechanisms in the field of achieving LDN and as part of the business for land initiative as well as creating distributive regional competence center for fighting desertification as platform, as a platform for knowledge sharing and technology transfer. We've also concluded development of a methodological guide for assessing LDN for the Central Asia countries, which offers adapted methodology for usage at a subnational level and additional indicators on salination, rangeland degradation and soil carbon. These documents They were the fruit of joint work between scientists, experts and representatives of national authorities, specifically this inter- approach of the CST should be encouraged and upscaled. However, colleagues, we are well aware that scientific technical support to states parties requires permanent improvement based on the CST mandate to provide the conference of parties informations and recommendations on science technological issues. We want to share our own observations and proposals aimed at strengthening the role of science and implementation of the convention. First of all, the need for a review of the functional model of the SPI. As stated in the SPI program of work for 2025-26, its activities to a significant degree are focused on preparations for the third edition of the GLO, GLO3, and coordination with other intergovernmental organs. Now, however, experience in our group has shown that the current SPI model is not sufficiently effective in responding to countries' immediate needs. The SPI analytical materials don't always reach national specialists. They don't get translated into the state languages, and as a result, they often remain overlooked in the field. Now, what do we propose? We propose an initiative to review the future functioning of the SPI which was discussed at previous sessions. In addition, we would propose creating SPI rapid scientific response mechanism for timely preparation of expert conclusions on country needs, for example, on methodology for salination assessment, on grazing load thresholds and on carbon project verification. Second, provide regular dissemination of SPI results through regional scientific hubs. Next, guarantee balanced geographical representation in the SPI, including experts from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions, those most vulnerable to land degradation, as provided for in Article 24 of the Convention. Secondly, the need to expand the scientific methodological support to countries in developing national monitoring and reporting systems. Our countries face discrepancies between global indicators on the one hand and national land-based data. Global algorithms don't distinguish secondary salination of irrigated lands. They don't distinguish healthy pastures from degraded where valuable cereals are replaced with wormwood or with non-palatable species. Our proposal is that the SCST could begin initiating development of a regional additional set of LDN indicators for arid and mountain ecosystems, including indicators such as spectral salination indicators, species composition of pasture vegetation, surface area of fixed sands, carbon stocks in saxaul forests. Our countries are ready to provide their many years of experience in observations and surveys and participate in pilot testing of such indicators we call on the CST tools to support the creation of an open regional data platform digital land in Central Asia where satellite information would be calibrated against land-based observation. Thirdly, the need to strengthen the scientific support to capacity building mechanisms. Article 25 of the convention mandates the CST to assist in creating a network of institutions, agencies and organs on the ground in local, national and other levels. However, in practice, the scientific methodological support for staff development remains fragmented. Many specialists on the ground responsible for preparation of reports and introducing sustainable practices are not sufficiently proficient in GIS or in remote sounding and modern monitoring methods. We propose developing model educational modules in the following spheres. Application of data from remote sounding and GIS to assess degradation of land. methods of land based verification of satellite data covering soil sections, geobotanical descriptions and sample plots developing implying national indicators on LDN taking into account regional specificities found carbon farming and participation in voluntary carbon markets using mobile apps to collect data from local communities. We call on the CST to recommend to the secretariat and its donors such as JF, FAO, UNDP to organize a series of regional workshops. in national languages, in Russian language, in the Central Asia countries on use of those modules. Fourthly, the need to harness synergies between the CST and other organs of the Rio Conventions, land degradation, climate change and loss of biodiversity are the three branches of the same planetary crisis. We welcome coordination of the SPI with IP the IPCC, ITBS, and other scientific entities. However, at a national level, those synergies are often absent. Those responsible for implementing the three conventions, the departments in question work in silos and the scientific recommendations aren't harmonized. We propose to the CST to develop a practical guide for countries on integration of scientific approaches of the CCD, the UNFCCC and the CBD when planning and implementing measures for land restoration. Such a guide could include recommendations on joint use of data, harmonising indicators and developing comprehensive projects. Colleagues, we are convinced that the CST has great unrealized potential. The transition from sporadic preparation of global reviews towards a systemic, timely and country driven scientific methodological support, that's the transformation that is necessary to achieve the LDN targets by 2030. And We call on the CST to recommend to COP17 the following decisions. One, review the functional SPI model, supplementing it with rapid scientific response mechanisms and mandatory regional representation of experts from vulnerable regions. Two, initiate development of a regional additional set of LDN indicators for arid and mountain ecosystems with the participation of the Central Asian countries. Three, direct the secretariat jointly with partners to create a model educational module on contemporary monitoring and LDN assessment methods for target groups of specialists. Four, develop a practical guide to integrate scientific approaches of the three Rio conventions at national level. Our interregional group is ready to act as a pilot platform for testing those initiatives. We commit to providing our research sites, our data drawn from many years of observation and our expertise for joint research and training. Together, bringing together science, policy and practice, we can ensure in a future where land restoration will be not just a one-off action, but a permanent feature for all countries. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Uzbekistan on behalf of the interregional group Central Asia Russia excellencies distinguished delegates I now invite the committee to consider agenda item 1a entitled adoption of the agenda and organization of work as you are aware at its opening meeting The Conference of the Parties decided to allocate to CST17 the deferred CRIC23 agenda item 5, consideration of priorities for science policy guidance, together with the corresponding document ICCD/CRIC23/7. Given the close substantive link between this matter and the committee's consideration of the synthesis report of the activities of the science policy interface, I would propose for the efficient organization of our work that the committee consider the deferred item in conjunction with agenda item 2B, synthesis report on the third edition of the Global Land Outlook, rather than taking it up separately. If there are no objections, I shall take it that the committee agrees to proceed accordingly. The provisional agenda for the seventeenth session is contained in document ICCD/COP17/CST/1 and the tentative schedule of work for the seventeenth session of the committee is contained in the annex of the same document. Are there any comments on the provisional agenda? I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Chairman. Distinguished colleagues, the Russian Federation cannot agree to including item two, issues associated to programme of work of the science policy guidance in the draft agenda of the CST17. As we have already repeatedly noted, the Russian Federation consistently is against politicization of the activities of the environmental conservation mechanisms, including the CCD. Work under the Convention should be built exclusively on the basis of scientific expertise, practical significance and principles of equal international cooperation. However, the Russian experts put forward by the various organs in the convention are systemically blocked by a number of states. We think it's unacceptable to effectively exclude our country from scientific practical activities under the convention. This approach runs counter to the spirit of international cooperation. as well as tasks of effectively combating desertification, land degradation and droughts. The Russian Federation unswervingly supported a constructive position. We didn't oppose nominations put forward by other countries, including countries that aren't friendly to us. We worked on the basis that professional qualifications of the candidates and their ability to achieve the goals of the Convention should stand above political differences. Now the situation has changed. In view of the unprecedented cases with intergovernmental working group on defining the future strategy of the Convention, when someone is allowed to dispute a nomination and review decisions that had already been taken, we also now think we're entitled to dispute other candidates. In that respect, the Russian Federation is against participation of the Ukrainian expert in the work of the science policy mechanism. We believe the activities of that expert reflect his political bias, which is incompatible with the need for objectivity, impartiality and professional independence. In view of the aforesaid, the Russian delegation objects to inclusion of agenda item two in the CST 17. The Russian Federation can lift its reservations only in the event of the regional expert of the central and eastern European region, including the Russian expert, take their entitled place as members of the working group. I'd like colleagues to understand our position. We'd ask the secretariat of the convention to include our statement in the records of the meeting. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation. Are there any other comments on the provisional agenda? I give the floor to the representative of the European Union.

Distinguished delegates and representatives, the EU and its member states support the CST agenda as it is in the document ICCD/COP17/CST/1. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union. Are there any further comments on the provisional agenda? I give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Thank you, Chair.

As mentioned by the distinguished delegate from the European Union, Australia also supports the provisional agenda.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Australia. I understand that further consultations are needed on agenda item two and sub items 2A and 2B. I also understand that it is the wish of the committee to proceed with the adoption of the remaining agenda items in order to allow us to move forward. I therefore propose that the committee adopt the provisional agenda contained in the document ICCD/COP17/CST/1, with the exception of agenda item 2 and sub-items 2 and 2, and that consideration of those items be deferred pending further consultation among the interested parties. May I take it that the committee agrees to adopt the provisional agenda, excluding agenda item 2 and sub-items 2 and 2 on the understanding that those items will remain under consultation and be considered at a later stage. I give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving us the floor. Brazil will not oppose the rule proposed by Chair. However, we would like to seek clarification on how these consultations on agenda item two would take place. We recall that a similar decision has been taken by the plenary of the COP yesterday, but so far we do not have information on how such consultations will take place. And for the sake of clarity and of process, we would like to know what you propose in this way so we know when this item is coming back and how we should proceed with these informal consultations. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil. As sorry. Yep. We have invited the parties to engage in the consultation and they'll be invited to return following their consultations at the next meeting of this committee. With no other objection, it is so decided. Furthermore, the tentative schedule of work for the seventeenth session contained in the annex of document ICCD/COP17/CST/1 would be revised as follows. Since agenda item two and sub-items 2A and 2B were not adopted, I propose that the consideration of agenda item 4, titled Future Functioning of the Science-Policy Interface, originally scheduled for Wednesday 19 August at 10am, will take place this afternoon, Tuesday 18 August at 3pm. May I take it that the Committee wishes to adopt the tentative schedule of work for the seventeenth session contained in the annex of the same document, as orally revised, on the understanding that the Committee may further revise the schedule of work as needed? I hear no objection. It is so decided. The revised schedule of work of the Committee will be reflected in the Daily Journal of the Conference, the Conference website and on the UNCCD app. The Committee has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 1. The Committee will consider agenda item 1 entitled Election of Officers other than the Chair of the Committee on the Science Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology. In accordance with Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure, as amended by Decision 25/COP10, three Vice-Chairs of the Committee at its seventeenth session were elected at the closing meeting of the sixteenth session of the Committee on Science and Technology on 13 December 2024. The election of the remaining Vice-Chair from the Group of Central and Eastern European States was postponed and the vacancy remains to be filled. Under Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure, one of the four Vice-Chairs shall act as rapporteur. I have been informed that following consultations, the Bureau appointed Mr. Shay Azdak of Indonesia to serve as rapporteur of the Committee on Science and Technology at its 17th session. On behalf of the committee, I congratulate Mr. Chey Azdak on his appointment and invite him to take his seat at the podium. I would also like to recall that the committee is to elect its officers at the last meeting of the committee on Friday 21 August. In this regard, I would like to invite parties to undertake consultations throughout the session with a view to electing the four vice chairs at the final plenary meeting of the committee. The committee has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 1B. Before proceeding further, I would like to invite the committee to turn its attention to the establishment of the CST contact group and the appointment of its facilitator. It is proposed to establish one contact group on matters relating to the committee to start the CST discussions and further negotiate on the basis of document ICCD/COP17/CST/8. It is my understanding that Mr. Joseph Noel of Grenada has been proposed as facilitator of this contact group. May I take it that the committee wishes to establish one contact group on matters relating to the Committee on Science and Technology and to appoint Mr. Joseph Noel as facilitator? I hear no objection. It is so decided. We will now have a brief pause to allow the podium to be rearranged for the next part of our meeting. Please remain seated. I now invite the committee to begin its consideration of agenda item three entitled interfacing science policy and sharing knowledge and its sub item C entitled synthesis report on supplementary technical guidance to support aridity and drought planning and adaptation across the Rio conventions and the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction. I will give the floor to the Secretary of the Committee on Science and Technology, Ms. Olga Andreeva, to introduce the documentation under this item.

Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates, I have the honor to introduce document ICCD/COP17/CST/2, which corresponds to the draft decision one in the document ICCD/COP17/CST/8. Document CST/2 is entitled, synthesis report on the supplementary technical guidance to support aridity and drought planning and adaptation across the REA Conventions and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. This work was requested by the parties in decision 16/COP16, which called for the development of a supplement to the National Adaptation Plan technical guidance to support aridity adaptation and drought planning in closer collaboration with the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. In response, the secretariat collaborated with the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security and the secretariats of other Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework to prepare the supplementary technical guidance entitled Planning for Aridity and Drought Adaptation: A Guide to Promote Synergies Across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework. The guidance is structured around seven components following the logical sequence of a planning cycle from setting the scene and identifying enabling conditions through risk assessment and the development and financing of adaptation measures to implementation, monitoring and reporting. I'm joined on the podium by the lead author of the supplementary technical guidance who will present their work summarized in the document CST/2. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the Secretary of the Committee on Science and Technology. We will now proceed with the interactive dialogue on the synthesis report on supplementary technical guidance to support aridity and drought planning and adaptation across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. I am pleased to welcome our presenter, Ms. Lisa Hartman, of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security. I also welcome our panelists, Mr. Baron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD, Ms. Michelle Alvarez, Vice Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology, Mr. Andrea Toretti, Member of the UNCCD Science Policy Interface, and Ms. Marcella de Souza, Director of the Watershed Organization Trust, Centre for Resilience Studies. And now I invite Ms. Lisa Hartman to present the key findings and recommendations of the supplementary technical guidance.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. It's my honor to present the synthesis report today. The guide is structured in three parts. Part one provides the rationale for synergistic approach to aridity and drought adaptation across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework. Part two is a practical guide on how to plan for aridity and drought adaptation at national level. Part three presents case studies from different regions that illustrate best practices and lessons learned to inspire action. The structure of this presentation follows these parts and presents the key findings and key messages. The first key message is that aridity and drought risks are systemic. Observations of past and current impacts together with future projections show that aridity and drought have far-reaching impacts. Diminishing water availability and the drying of soils drive ecosystem deterioration, biodiversity loss and compound hazards such as wildfires and sand and dust storms. And land degradation can reinforce adverse climate feedback loops. They also exacerbate water and food insecurity for millions of people worldwide, put multiple sectors and systems under stress, and may also contribute to competition over increasingly scarce resources. As aridity and drought impacts affect people differently depending on gender, age, disability, livelihood, income, ethnicity, and social status, they also increase social vulnerability and inequality. Because they are embedded in complex interconnected systems, these risks are systemic. Addressing interconnected aridity and drought risks and impacts and the challenges that arise from them require holistic, comprehensive risk management approaches. Such approaches often require collaboration and coordinated action at multiple governance levels across sectors, borders and policy domains. This can be achieved by building on the synergies among the goals and targets of relevant multilateral environmental agreements and international frameworks, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. These conventions and frameworks with their global goals can guide planning for aridity and drought adaptation, while adaptation outcomes in turn support the achievement of multiple global goals. This guide focuses on realizing synergies that can help bridge gaps between convention and framework specific objectives and adaptation planning processes at global and national level. Here, planning instruments are levers for synergies. Relevant national planning instruments include land degradation neutrality target setting, national drought plans, national adaptation plans, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and disaster risk reduction strategies. They provide key entry points to integrate aridity and drought adaptation and to harness synergies among the framework's goals and targets across sectors and governance levels, reduce siloed approaches and strengthen resilience. The legal and policy foundations to facilitate synergies for aridity and drought adaptation are embedded in the foundational convention text and frameworks, An overview of the respective articles is provided in the report. The integration across the multiple national planning instruments of the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework began with a systematic comparison of the various steps, elements and modules outlined in the technical guidelines for each instrument to identify core components that enable synergistic adaptation. This is schematically shown on this slide. This comparison identified the principal similarities of these instruments and subsequently clustered them into seven components forming the backbone of this guide and which are detailed in part two of the guide. Each of these components is refined to provide more detailed action points to more effectively direct aridity and drought adaptation for countries. The instruments share core components for synergistic adaptation to aridity and drought, which include strengthening enabling conditions, inclusive and comprehensive risk assessment and management, alignment of national targets with global goals, selection and prioritization of robust adaptation actions, and coherent monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting supported by adequate and accessible finance. Integrating aridity and drought into these shared components can make adaptation more effective and can usefully leverage existing planning cycles and coordinating mechanisms. To ensure that adaptation is both effective and equitable, these processes should consider how aridity and drought affect different population groups and whether adaptation measures reach and benefit those that are most exposed to risk. Each component of the practical guide provides detailed guidance together with the underlying scientific evidence and policy rationale. It is important to say that the components and action points are intended as entry points for identifying and realizing synergies across planning processes rather than an alternative set of planning actions. Realizing the potential synergies identified in the guide requires coordinated action at global, national, and local levels. Coordinated action includes enhanced collaboration, data and information sharing, and financing mechanisms across national ministries, technical agencies, local governments, the private sector, and civil society. Within countries, bridging national planning instruments and processes under these frameworks depends on deliberate coordination to avoid fragmented or conflicting interventions, reduce transaction costs, and leverage additional resources. At the global level, the secretariats and partner institutions can add value by aligning guidance, technical support, and monitoring systems around shared objectives on aridity and drought and other cross-cutting challenges. These findings have several practical implications. These include improving institutional and governance arrangements to overcome siloed decision-making and implementation of adaptation strategies. and promoting the meaningful participation of affected communities, including women, indigenous people and local communities, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups. Investing in science and data to underpin comprehensive risk assessment and management for aridity and drought risks, such as through early warning systems, as well as sectoral climate services. This includes using sex, age, disability, disaggregated data and local knowledge where available. Prioritizing sustainable land management, integrated water resource management and practices, nature-based solutions and integrated land use planning that deliver multiple benefits across environmental, economic and social dimensions. And finally, mobilizing and streamlining finance, including innovative mechanisms and blended finance structures to sustain proactive risk reduction and long-term adaptation efforts, and improving access to adaptation resources for groups that often face barriers to finance and support services. Part three of the report presents case studies from different regions that illustrate such examples from research and practice, and reflect on each of the components of part two. They provide good practices, lessons learned, challenges and opportunities for aridity and drought adaptation and highlight potential synergies across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework to inspire planning in other countries. Examples of the insights of these case studies are highlighted and listed on this slide. They include, for example, how community participate in drought risk assessments and water stewardship for climate adaptation, biodiversity and disaster risk reduction, or how anticipatory funding in action strengthens adaptive capacities to drought. The challenge now is not to invent a new agenda, but to connect the ones that we already have. This means finding ways for existing efforts to work across goals rather than in isolation. As countries strengthen now their efforts to address the growing challenges of aridity and drought, there is an increased need for planning approaches that are coherent, coordinated and mutually enforcing. And we see that there is a growing potential to move forward toward more coordinated and where appropriate, joint planning and implementation across land, climate, biodiversity and disaster risk reduction. It is now time to build on existing synergies, strengthen partnerships, and join forces to create more resilient landscapes, communities, and economies in the decades ahead. With this, I conclude the presentation and thank you.

I thank Ms. Hartmann. I now give the floor to Mr. Baron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD.

I don't know how. How do I do it? Sorry, technology. So thank you very much for the opportunity to respond. And what I can say is that what you have just heard is a vision that we've all had for a long time. It's a vision from the perspective of a farmer or a herder who does not differentiate from the various elements that influence whether or not they are successful in delivering their livelihoods, nor from the elements that cause the distinctions. It's all down to, is it working or is it not working? And by embracing an approach that was just provided, where we can actually bring together that connectivity across these different perspectives, we are put in a position to mirror what the farmer, what the herder actually sees, measures, and does to solve the problem. And so I encourage that we take a look at this from the bottom up rather than the top down to see if it actually does connect. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Orr. I next give the floor to Ms. Michelle Alvarez, vice chair of the committee on science and technology.

Thank you, chair, and thank you, Byron, for that segue. Indeed, this report provides an interesting vision that I believe has great value in that it gives us common evidence base for addressing challenges that don't necessarily fit within one institution or one set of convention boundaries. For example, the report speaks about drought and aridity being systemic and interconnected risk. They affect land, water, biodiversity, agriculture, managing climate resilience and disaster risk simultaneously. So shared scientific understanding would help focal points and implementing agencies recognize these interconnections and identify what is common, the common priorities and ensure that actions under one framework reinforce rather than duplicate or conflict with actions under another. So, I believe that most parties have existing coordinating systems in place. and we are not looking to create new systems or another layer of planning, but rather to coordinate and integrate existing what we are doing currently for national development purposes. So the challenge therefore is not to generate more science or more guidance, as I said, but to ensure that information reaches where it needs to reach to get underground action. What we need from the science is for it to be translated into practical tools for implementing institutions such as risk assessments, spatial information, early warning systems, planning criteria, shared indicators and investment priorities. The guide itself recognizes that existing instruments such as our LDN targets or drought plans or NAPS or NB SAPs and disaster risk reduction strategies can provide a practical entry point for this sort of integration. National focal points can help connect these processes, but the science policy interface cannot just stop with us, cannot just stop at the focal point. it must be made into realistically digestible and relevant means, approaches for technical agency, for planners, for local authorities, for local communities and those making development and investment decisions. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Alvarez. I now give the floor to Mr. Andrea Toretti, member of the UNCCD Science Policy Interface.

Thank you, thank you very much. Let me share with you some reflections on the role of science in the actions and the activities that are framed in the report. As you have seen, there are several components that need scientific evidence, scientific innovation and scientific tools, for instance, in the identification of risk, in the assessment of risk, but also in the development and implementation of the adaptation strategies as well as the evaluation. As it has been highlighted, drought and aridity are complex challenges, actually increasingly complex challenges that acting at the global scale and that require scientific innovation knowledge. As it has been highlighted, drought is systemic. This is why we need the support of science to deal with this complexity with all the different elements that are characterizing drought and aridity. We need science to understand better how the effects, the risk and the impacts propagate along the spatial scale from the local one to the regional but also the global and with science also to understand how risk and impacts actually propagate along the temporal line. This is essential and also science support the evaluation of the adaptation strategies that can be implemented at the local scale but they need to be tested, evaluated and assessed considering different possible potential implausible regional and global scenarios. And also thanks to science, we can evaluate in virtual environment as we call it now digital twins, the effectiveness of these adaptation strategies, but also looking not just at the benefits right now, but also the way they would bring beneficial effects under future conditions, future conditions in terms of climate, in terms of land and so on. And also thanks to science, we can make sure that these adaptation won't increase risk connected to other hazards or harm other sectors, because indeed, when it comes to drought and aridity, they have impacts that are really multi-sectoral and go beyond just a single sector. And finally also thanks to science, we can analyze and deal with these hazards and challenges, also considering compounding factors and elements that are reshaping also the way these extremes are happening and affecting our regions. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Toretti. I next give the floor to Marcella D'Souza, Director of the Watershed Organization Trust Center for Resilience Studies.

Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to share the bottom-up perspective. I have to say that I was quite excited when I've been hearing more and more about the synergies that are coming together because that's how the reality takes place on the ground. While we talk about the guidelines that have been developed and other tools that are also being developed to look at the synergies, I would like to say from the bottom up, what does it mean? The landscapes are very unique and we cannot just assume that what is done in one area, even in a small agro ecological zone can be implemented in the other area and get the same impact. Because that is where the uniqueness of each of the landscapes have to be understood and that's what brings the importance to the community at the center. When I understand, when I look at this to see how do we bring the science, how do we bring the uniqueness of each of the landscapes, how do we bring policies together? It is here when we need to look at empowering communities with the knowledge, understanding their science, because a lot of the cultures have grown around the ecology that they have lived in. and they make choices because of that. But we need to bring the scientific knowledge with the community, what we call citizen science or traditional knowledge. We need to bring it together because that when it is better understood can take it sustainably forward. One of the aspects I also want to look at is and why we need the communities to be empowered with science and with bringing the synergies together is because we are talking today about land degradation and drought. But I also want to add that in the drought prone areas, we are observing more and more floods, which is further aggravating the degradation. And that is a part where communities need to be prepared to take action and preemptive action preparedness rather than only respond post disasters. So, another aspect that I'd like to also respond in terms of the whole changes that are taking place. We need to consider and in these guidelines, what are those drivers that make things happen? Communities and are guided by income. But how do we bridge in the sustainability of the land resources on the one hand, and on the other hand, the adaptation to climate change and the economy while they look at equity, because when everybody is benefiting, then sustainability can be taken forward. Thank you.

I thank Mr. D'Souza. I now open the floor for questions and comments. Participants wishing to take the floor are requested to press the microphone button now. I ask delegations to limit their comments to no more than three minutes. Thank you for your kind cooperation. now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Thank you very much, Chairman. And given that this is the first time that I'm taking the floor, I would like to thank the people of the Republic of Mongolia for their welcome and for the excellent representation and organization of this event. I would also like to thank the panellists for their very valuable comments and the secretariat for preparing the documents for this Committee on Science and Technology. More specifically on this item, we would point out that the activities proposed must be developed and carried out respecting the sovereignty of states, their priorities, capacities and national circumstances. Argentina has drawn up its action plan for drought management, which has been based on the report of the mitigation plans to combat drought in Argentina, which was drafted in 2020 with the support of the global mechanism. This plan adopts the Sendai framework and the risk assessment plan for droughts. I should also mention in Argentina we have a national board for the monitoring of droughts and our country is now beginning to work on it. We always require support of course to strengthen our capacities, capacity building and to provide this with other institutions and management of this convention. Strengthening these national spaces should take precedence over any global drought monitoring initiative and should take up the grassroots work done as a starting point for these initiatives so as to take into account national capacities when it comes to developing national drought plans. Thank you very much, sir.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, followed by China and Mongolia.

Chair, distinguished delegates and representative, sorry, the EU and its member states support this guidance as a vital tool for resilience, synergetics, adaptation and encourage its implementation to strengthen global responses to aridity and drought. We welcome the guidance alignment with the draft decision text conclusions which highlight The systematic risk of aridity and drought exacerbating water and food insecurity, land degradation, and ecosystem deterioration. The synergistic potential of national planning instrument under the Rio Conventions and the Sundown Framework. The core component of effective adaptation, including governance, risk assessment, aligned targets, and monitoring. and the need for coordinating action to maximize synergies and reduce fragmentation. We acknowledge a rigorous development process, including stakeholders consultation, literature reviews and case studies. We note progress on decision 16/COP/16, including strengthened drought monitoring and early warning system supporting countries. science-based tool and capacity building, impact assessment, online courses, knowledge sharing initiatives such as drought, global drought mosaic, UNCCD aridity platform. This guidance provides a critical foundation for coherent, effective adaptation, and we reaffirm our commitment to its adoption and implementation. To advance the objectives of this guidance, the EU would like to highlight the following priority for consideration by parties, strengthening resource mobilization through existing mechanisms to support vulnerable country and region in implementing integrated solution that address land degradation neutrality, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction. promoting integrated approaches through practices such as agroecology, agroforestry, among others, complemented by innovative technology for drought resilience, for example, early warning system and drought resilient farming techniques. Other establishing mechanism for ongoing coordination to align future policies, indicators and reporting across the Rio Convention and Sendai Framework, building on the synergies identified in this guidance to ensure that efforts under each framework are mutually reinforcing and coherent. Chair, distinguished delegates and representatives, thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to thank the Secretariat for its work. I would also like to thank the panelists. Regarding the technical issue of drought management, we also have some experience. In connection of this, we'd like to make five recommendations. Firstly, in terms of research and management system development, increased investment in drought management research systematically study drought vulnerability identification, multidimensional disaster impact assessment, cross-sector drought risk evaluation should be part of a basic and applied research. Secondly, concerning agricultural climate resilience, We like to recommend to accelerate the adoption of drought resistant crop varieties, water saving irrigation, conservation tillage and unconventional water utilization technologies in arid and semi-arid regions to improve drought resistance and efficient water resource use. Thirdly, in regional cooperation and international exchange, we like to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with high-risk regions in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa, and timely introduce China's Marsu Global Early Warning Service Network, which covers multiple types of disasters. Fourthly, in terms of funding support, we like to call for further mobilization of adequate, predictable and accessible public international funding to help affected developing countries with drought prevention, risk reduction and resilience building. Fifthly, we should treat soil erosion as important indicator for land degradation. and consider soil and water conservation as a key to restoring degraded land and prepare soil erosion maps, identify areas where soil erosion rates exceeds permissible limits and their spatial boundaries and assess land degradation accordingly. We should regularly conduct soil and water conservation and drought remote sensing monitoring and strengthen the supervision of the whole process. I'd like to thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mongolia.

Thank you, Chair, distinguished delegates, and on behalf of the government of Mongolia and people of Mongolia, I warmly welcome you to this, to Ulaanbaatar, and we wish productive deliberation and pleasant stay in Mongolia. Mongolia wishes to make a following remarks in its national capacity. Mongolia welcomes document and the supplementary technical guidance on planning for aridity and drought adaptation across the Rio Conventions and Sendai Framework. The distinction between aridity and drought is particularly important. In Mongolia, this process interact with land degradation, water scarcity, and rangeland pressure. as well as sand and dust storms, wildfires and other disastrous events. They affect ecosystems, livelihoods, livestock, food security. And Mongolia therefore supports this document's systematic approach. However, synergy must mean better implementation, not additional layer of planning, implementation, duplication and reporting. Mongolia encourages the use of existing national coordination mechanisms, planning cycles, data sets, and reporting arrangements. The international guidance should remain flexible, respond to national circumstances. Mongolia highlights that guidance must be supported by accessible finance, technology, and capacity building. Countries require support not only to prepare plans, but also to develop projects, strengthen all the warning systems and implement measures at the landscape and community levels. Mongolia recommends promote coordinated implementation across land, climate, biodiversity and disaster risk frameworks. and strengthen implementation and resource mobilization for national and regional drought and aridity monitoring, including ground validation. The better alignment among the international frameworks must lead to practical benefits on the ground, healthier land, more secure water resources. Mongolia stands ready to share its humble experience and work with all parties and partners to translate this guidance into coordinated and measurable actions. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mongolia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, members of the committee, on behalf of the Algerian delegation, I'd first of all like to express our sincere gratitude to the government and people of Mongolia for their warm welcome and for the excellent organization of this COP. We also thank all panelists, the secretariat, the Chair, the CST Bureau for all their efforts in preparing our work. Algeria welcomes the work carried out on the technical supplementary guidance on planning and adaptation to support aridity and drought planning and adaptation. What's particularly important is the proposed approach consisting of considering aridity and droughts as systemic and interdependent risks. with consequences on water resources, soils, ecosystems, biodiversity, agriculture, and means of livelihood. For countries facing arid conditions and recurring episodes of drought, that approach, integrated approach is essential. It should allow us not only to better understand the risks, but also enhance the capacities of countries upstream to adapt and act coherently and sustainably. We also think that we must prioritize consistency between national existing instruments. It's important to avoid multiplication of plans or parallel research mechanisms on the contrary and rather seek better coordination between the LDN targets Climate change adaptation plans, plans to combat drought, biodiversity strategies and disaster risk reduction capacities should be a key. We also want to stress the importance of science and data. Risk assessments should be based on reliable comparable data concerning aridity and droughts and water resources, soil, vegetation and vulnerability of territory. Bolstering mapping oversight and rapid response systems should allow us to better understand risk but also anticipate interventions and better target preventive and adaptation action. We think moreover that land restoration should be conceived as part of an integrated approach. Restoration should not be assessed solely through the lens of surface area restored or number of, but should seek to improve condition of soil, preserve water resources, preserve biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and their ability to adapt to future climate conditions. Algeria wishes to share the experience of the Green Dam of the 1970s. This vast project to combat desertification, land restoration covered 3.7 million hectares over 1,500 kilometers through three regions. Thanks to this project, we expanded the Project over 4 million kilometers, that experience was for Algeria marked a veritable return, uh, to experience in fighting the desertification, adaptation to aridity and restoring ecosystems.

It.

Taught us that the big restoration programs must feature, be part of the long term, must be based on environmental condition, local climate conditions, and be regularly reassessed based on scientific knowledge from land observations. The current relaunch of the dam started in 2020, whose work was launched in October 2023, is based on a renewed approach, which is not not limited to reforestation, but includes conservation of soil and earth, protection of rangeland, forest work, adapted plantations, and reintegration of local populations. This experience has highlighted the importance of moving from tactics based on just planting trees towards a land restoration forestation strategy taking into account natural vegetation, water, biodiversity, rangelands, agricultural and pastoral activities as well as livelihoods of local populations. It stresses also the importance of scientific long-term follow-up helping evaluate the results of restoration actions, identify success or failure factors and readapt action based on climate and environmental conditions. In that context, bolstering the SPI seemed essential, national research institutions have significant experience in observation of ecosystems, mapping, land restoration, biodiversity conservation and assessing impacts of climate change. Therefore, it would be useful to enhance their participation in national mechanisms and international mechanisms of the SPI. We encourage also the development of mechanisms to better share experiences and best practices among countries. Transfer of knowledge and technologies should help transform scientific results and field experience into operational solutions adapted to national context. In that framework, experience gained in faces that have long faced aridity and droughts can contribute significantly to the work of the CST. We also think that scientific knowledge must be greater mobilized to identify species and vegetation best adapted to local conditions. restoration should be based on environmental features of territories and not using a uniform approach, a boilerplate approach. Therefore, we support cooperation between the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework, especially in the sphere of follow-up on indicators, data sharing, capacity building, financing. We think that that approach will help us come bring closer together science public policy and action on the ground and to bolster the capacities to anticipate prevent and respond to the impacts of aridity droughts and land degradation I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Niger.

Thank you, Chair. The organization of this COP17 has been outstanding. Thank you to Mongolia for that and for their welcome. So I take this opportunity, and by this assembly, to give Niger's point of view on matters. To pick up first on the report, we would point out that the case studies should be should do more to encourage arid zones, in this case in Africa, because land degradation is very significant and has had an enormous impact on populations in that part of the world, to reverse the trend towards degradation. We think that taking into account local knowledge for combating land degradation, for combating poverty, promoting environmental education and promoting land restoration are key links if we're going to reverse land degradation. In conclusion, I would say that promoting the combating land degradation based on ecosystem services for land registration is a good place to make land degradation, which today has become endemic in many countries in arid areas. It can offer an opportunity to restore the environment fight poverty and reverse food insecurity. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Niger. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico, followed by Switzerland and Kenya.

Thank you, Chair. This is my first intervention, and I want to thank the government of Mongolia and its people for hosting this important event. We want to thank also the realization of this synthesis and Mexico recognizes the importance of a strain in planning and adaptation of aridity and drought through integrated approaches and graded coordination with the relevant agendas of the Rio Conventions and disaster risk reduction. We also support implementary technical guidance that the strains and articulates existing national planning instruments and process. while avoiding the creation of parallel structures or additional planning, monitoring or reporting burdens. In particular, it is important to harmonize indicators and identify common ones, building on existing progress and avoiding additional burden associated with the identification or development of new indicators that also could result in a new reporting requirements for the parties. Finally, Mexico supports strengthening national scientific and technical capacities, as well as the institutional coordination to improve the assessment, monitoring and response to aridity and drought, seeking to make use of existing national information, monitoring and early warning systems, and where appropriate, to facilitate access to adequate means of implementation. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Chair, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, as it is the first time we take the floor in the CST, Switzerland would like to thank the government and people of Mongolia for their warm welcome in this beautiful country. In this summer, also in Switzerland, we experienced a long period of drought, which already has important and serious impacts on agriculture, forestry and water resources. Scenarios that climate scientists have established and predicted since decades are now becoming more and more a reality. And also a country with a temperate climate has to cope with these impacts. Mitigating and preventing drought and adaptation to climate change is now high on the agenda of a wide range of stakeholders in my country. In this context and talking about synergies, allow me to mention as an example that three ministries of our government have joined forces and developed with considerable efforts in the last three years a joint drought platform. The aim of the project is to establish establish a nationwide drought monitoring and warning system accessible to all stakeholders. Switzerland welcomes therefore that the technical guidelines on drought adaptation in a synergetic approach has been developed within the UNCCD process and we will study it in detail and with interest. We thank the authors for the work on this tool. We believe that such a synergetic approach is of great importance when addressing aridity and drought, even more in these times when climate change is having more and more tangible impacts all over the world. However, we do regret that the final report was not ready as today, or yesterday at least. Nevertheless, from reading the CSD document ICCD COP17 CSD2, we welcome the conclusions and recommendations aimed at creating synergies in adaptation planning and overcoming siloed decision-making. As we have noted, yet had the opportunity to study the report, we would nevertheless like to know how this instrument will be linked to the drought toolbox of UNCCD. We suggest that this link will be made clearly visible and very evident and guide the users from and to the UNCCD toolbox, helping thereby the users navigate the synergies between the different conventions and frameworks. Furthermore, referring to the document ICCAT COP17 CSD2 section F, we note that many SLM technologies and approaches that address water scarcity, drought and aridity are already visible and accessible in the UNCCD repository of best practices and are a way to address aridity and drought in a synergistic way. We call on parties to continue to document best practices for SLM which relate to drought preparedness, prevention and mitigation through the UNCCD knowledge platform. The continued exchange of knowledge among country parties remains in our view an excellent contribution of the UNCCD process which can contribute to many efforts at national level, including capacity building of a wide range of stakeholders as well as to planning and implementation of programs and policies related to drought and aridity. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya, followed by Brazil and Lesotho.

Chair, and distinguished guests, Kenya joins the other parties to thank the government and the people of Mongolia for warm welcome and for hosting COP17 in this wonderful city of Ulaanbaatar. Under the UNFCCC, Kenya has established a strong climate governance framework through the Climate Change Act, nationally determined contributions, and the National Climate Change Action Plan. Further, the country has adopted land degradation neutrality targets and implemented sustainable land management and landscape restoration initiatives in our arid and semi-arid areas to combat desertification, restore degraded ecosystem, and strengthen the resilience of livelihoods dependent on natural resources. The country has further strengthened disaster risk governance through the national disaster risk management policy enhanced drought early warning systems, and increased investment in preparedness, risk monitoring, and community resilience. We have also established a solid policy and institutional foundation for integrated drought resilience, strengthening coherence across climate adaptation, land restoration, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction while enhancing resilience to increase aridity while supporting sustainable development and fulfilling international commitments. Chair, since the UNCCD synthesis report, addresses the fragmentation of policy frameworks by providing guidance to integrate aridity and drought planning across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework, as well as tackling siloed institutional approaches, weak cross-sector coordination, and the lack of synchronized monitoring and financing mechanism, Kenya therefore supports the promotion of stronger coherence between UNCCD, land restoration, drought resilience, and land degradation neutrality. Also, UNFCCC climate adaptation, nationally determined contributions, and national adaptation plans, and the CBD, in the implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly targeting target two, which restores at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, alongside ecosystem conservation and sustainable use. Kenya therefore requests the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, the CBD, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to support us in our effort to integrate aridity and drought adaptation through promoting monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting related to aridity and drought, including through the identification of shared indicators and opportunities for data sharing. Finally, we are also asking that you help us align technical guidance, capacity building, and support for access to finance to enhance synergies across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. I thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Brazil would like to welcome this draft decision and support its overall objective in strengthening synergies in planning and adaptation to aridity and drought. We note that there is another discussion taking place on drought in the COP, which we also support, but unfortunately we have been facing difficulties to advance in it, which makes these conversations in the CST even more relevant. For Brazil, the synergies we are discussing in this item should be implementation oriented and country driven. as already highlighted by the distinguished delegate of Argentina, while fully respecting the distinct mandates and processes of the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework, as well as national circumstances, needs and priorities. We also highlight the recognition of a diverse range of adaptation and resilience solutions, which in our view must include agroecology, integrated crop-livestock-forest systems, restoration of seasonally dry tropical forests and other dryland ecosystems, social technologies and community-based adaptation. Such options should remain illustrative, allowing Parties to identify the approaches best suited to their national circumstances. At the same time, recommendations to affected developing countries must be matched by adequate, predictable and accessible means of implementation, including financial resources, technology acquisition, adaptation, development and transfer, and capacity building, consistent with the obligations of developed country parties under the Convention and with a realistic approach to the implementation of such recommendations. With regards to water-related language, we suggest remaining close to the terminology already agreed under the Convention in its Article 2, including the sustainable use of water resources. Brazil will submit a few textual proposals reflecting these pointings once we have the opportunity to discuss this decision in the contact group and looks forward to working constructively with parties. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lesotho, followed by Uruguay and Zimbabwe. Can I request some technical assistance for Lesotho, please?

Doesn't come in.

Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Uh thank you, chair. Uh Lesotho welcomes the report and appreciates its emphasis on integrated approach to addressing aridity and drought. Recognizing the interlinkage between drought, land degradation, climate change, biodiversity, and disaster risk. Lesotho particularly welcome the recommendation to build on existing national planning processes, including land degradation neutrality, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction. This approach promotes coherence and ensure that interventions deliver multiple benefits for land, water ecosystem, and community resilience. chair, distinguished delegates, Lesotho establish a strong national evidence base including special LDN targets reported through place and a high resolution long term national data set on LDN and meteorological monitoring. These resources provide valuable evidence for monitoring and land degradation, assessing drought risk and informing national actions. Importantly, LDN data also contribute beyond UNCCD including the climate transparency biodiversity conservation particularly the gumming module global biodiversity framework integrated land data therefore support the better identification and prioritization of conservation restoration and sustainable land management interventions Lesotho therefore encourage continued efforts to strengthen the use of national scientific data and capacities alongside global assessments, ensuring that science directly support policy and implementation while embracing synergistic approach. I thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative Lesotho. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Thank you very much, Chairman. Uruguay reaffirms the importance of advancing decisively towards the effective implementation of the Convention, strengthening the link between science, technology and decision-making based on the needs and priorities nationally. We believe that it is of priority to address the sustainable development and management of rangelands and drought. so as to prevent degradation and to strengthen resilience. Science, data, technology and knowledge are vital to strengthen national capacities, improve planning and transform evidence into decisions and specific actions. We highlight the importance of having precise, reliable and timely data nationally, digital tools, artificial intelligence, which complement the assessments and global frameworks and make it possible to develop adapted solutions to each reality. For Uruguay, guaranteeing far-reaching equitable access to reliable and timely data, technology and knowledge are essential to move towards an effective implementation which is adapted to the realities of each country. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe.

Chair and distinguished delegates, Zimbabwe wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the government and people of Mongolia for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements extended to the delegates during COP17. Zimbabwe welcomes the supplementary technical guidance on aridity and drought planning and adaptation, which is particularly relevant to Africa, where recurrent droughts are increasingly affecting agriculture, water security, ecosystems, livelihoods, and development. Zimbabwe advocates for a shift from a crisis response approach to proactive drought risk reduction ensuring that early warning is directly linked to early action preparedness and timely mobilization of resources our national experience demonstrates the importance of integrated approaches including the national drought early warning system from climate resilient agriculture water harvesting and integrated water resource management these initiatives strengthen food and water security while building resilience among vulnerable communities. Zimbabwe further calls for stronger regional and international approaches, including sharing climate information, early warning data, technologies and good practices. We support strong alignment of UNCCD drought planning with the UNFCCC, CBD and Sendai Framework, avoiding fragmented approaches. We therefore call for enhanced financing, capacity building and technology transfer to enable developing countries to implement practical drought adaptation measures. Chairperson, Zimbabwe believes that drought resilience must be measured not only by our ability to predict drought, but by our ability to act before drought becomes a crisis. We therefore support the SPI recommendations and request parties to advance work towards a dedicated UNCCD drought protocol. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Suriname.

Thank you, Chair. Mr. Chair, honorable delegates, Suriname welcomes the supplementary technical guidance on aridity and drought planning and adaptation and supports a stronger, more coherent approach across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. We particularly welcome the recognition that aridity and drought are interconnected with land degradation, water security, biodiversity, climate change, and disaster risk, and that national planning instruments can provide practical entry points for more integrated action. At the same time, implementation of this guidance should remain responsive to national circumstances, needs, and priorities for countries With different climatic and ecological conditions, including humid tropical countries and small island developing states, drought risk assessments, indicators and monitoring approaches must be sufficiently flexible and fit for purpose. We therefore support a stronger investment in science, national data, hydrological and climate monitoring, early warning systems, and integrated land and water management, together with improved coordination along national institutions and focal points. We also encourage greater attention to the specific circumstances of six regions. including through strengthened regional and sub-regional technical cooperation. In the Caribbean, Suriname recognizes the important role of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management, PISLM, as a regional driver for technical cooperation, capacity building and implementation. Existing regional mechanisms, such as PISLM, should be further strengthened and utilized to help translate scientific guidance into practical national action. We also support greater alignment of technical guidance, capacity building, and reporting across the Rio Conventions and the Sendai Framework. Such synergies should help reduce duplication and transaction costs rather than create additional reporting or institutional burdens. Finally, effective implementation will require accessible finance, technology transfer, and sustained technical capacity, with particular attention to the needs and circumstances of developing countries and small island developing states. Suriname therefore supports taking this guidance forward as a practical tool for integrated country driven drought resilience and adaptation. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Suriname. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Djibouti.

Chairman.

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, on behalf of the Republic of Djibouti, may I express our deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Mongolia for the very warm welcome extended to us and also for the excellent organization of this seventeenth session. We would also like to greet and thank the Committee on Science and Technology for the significant efforts undertaken so as to make available science data, knowledge and innovation and to discuss these during land degradation, desertification and drought. The quality of the scientific work presented is vital to ensure our countries to better understand the transformation of our lands and to take decisions based on evidence and robust knowledge. However, above and beyond scientific analysis and data, it's also important to further highlight the success stories, specific experiences. and solutions which have highlighted effectiveness on the ground. These experiences will be a valuable source of learning for our countries because they will enable us to better understand what works in certain contexts and under what circumstances these solutions can be reproduced and adapted. Science must therefore clarify decisions, but must also help us to highlight the successes obtained in the field so as to expedite the restoration of land, strengthen the resilience of communities and fight effectively against drought and aridity. For Djibouti, Mr. Chairman, the issue of aridity and drought takes on specific and crucial importance. Our country is marked by an arid climate. Aridity is therefore a structural reality of our country, whereas drought is a recurrent climate risk which places growing pressure on water resources, grazing land, agriculture, ecosystems and the livelihoods of our people. In this context, therefore, we must avoid considering drought as a specific crisis that we simply have to respond to until it comes back again. Gradually, we must move from a rationale of reaction to one of resilience and prevention and anticipation. This means that we need to bolster the early warning systems, as well as natural resources. We must work on sustainability of water management agricultural pastoral lands to combat climate change. Chairman, for Djibouti, restoring land in arid areas isn't just about planting trees. We need to restore the environmental functioning, protect soil, regenerate vegetation, and restore grazing land and rangelands of our communities, which are increasingly suffering from the impacts of climate change. It is against this backdrop that Djibouti places particular importance on the implementation of the African initiative entitled the Great Green Wall initiative, which we believe to be a major framework to expedite the restoration of land, strengthen the resilience of communities, and combat desertification in the most vulnerable areas. We are also convinced that science and technology must further reach out to realities on the ground. Scientific data must enable decision makers and communities to better anticipate drought, to identify the areas which are most vulnerable, to guide investment towards most effective solutions. GBT therefore calls for a strengthened mobilization of the international community for countries which face aridity, desertification and recurring drought. We need more funding, technology, scientific capacity and partnerships so that vulnerable countries can move from commitments to specific actions. Our message is a simple one, Mr. Chair. Aridity is a reality of our country. Drought is a risk that we must anticipate, but land restoration must become part of our resilience. Through this COP, my country reasserts its commitment to contributing to international efforts to restore land, strengthen population resilience, and ensure that future populations have access to resources. Thank you very much, sir.

I thank the distinguished representative of Djibouti. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, Ukraine would like to respond briefly to the objections raised in this meeting by the Russian Federation. We categorically reject attempts by Russian Federation to politicize the work of this convention and to impose its preferred nominees upon the Annex V region. With regard to the science policy interface, the facts are clear. The independent scientists of the SPI are selected through a global open call by the CST Bureau on the basis of scientific merit and relevant science policy expertise. They are not national representatives allocated to individual countries. If candidates associated with one party were not selected through this independent merit-based process, the relevant question is whether they meet the established selection criteria, not whether the convention has been politicized. At the same time, Ukraine strongly objects to attempts to impose upon the region as a purported scientific and regional representative in the IVG a person whose own published works has treated internationally recognized Ukrainian territory as part of Russian Federation. Documented evidence concerning this matter has already been formally provided by Ukraine to the COP17 presidency and the secretariat. The Russian Federation also meets its essential procedural facts. Its contested nominations to the IVG were not agreed by the Annex V region. The official UNCCD record expressly confirms that several members of the Eastern European group questioned the nominations transmitted by the regional chair and the matter remained under regional consultation. A contested nomination cannot be presented as an agreed regional mandate. Ukraine therefore asks the chair, the secretariat, the distinguished delegates to distinguish clearly between independent scientific selection based on merit and attempts by one party to impose contested nominees to an entire region. The convention must remain a form of science, cooperation and mutual trust. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Excellency and distinguished guests. As the outset, the delegation of Republic of Sudan wishes to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to the friendly government and people of Republic of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and excellent organization of COP17. Mr. Chairmans, Sudan fully endorse the scientific visions presented in this esteemed committee. We wish to inform our support for the following key decision, which we consider essential pillars in addressing the acceleration challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought. First, supporting early warning system. Sudan urgently call for provision of and transfer of modern and indigenous technologies for drought monitoring as well as building national capacity to monitor vegetation cover using satellite technologies and remote sensing to ensure accurate and proactive responses. Second, funding scientific research and technology transfer, we call upon international community to directly link the research of scientific and technology committees with the national and international adaptation policies, emphasizing the immediate transfer of technology and collaboration. Third, climate justice and targeted finance. We strongly emphasize that countries facing armed conflict and severe humanitarian crisis foremost among the country exceptionally require flexible rapid access scientific and practical finance mechanism. This is critical to ensure that the technical and financial assistance reach degraded environment and most vulnerable community directly through comprehensive and sustainable development program. In conclusion, Sudan reaffirm its full commitment to joint action and constructive cooperation to implement the outcomes of the esteemed committee translating its resolution into the action programs that builds the resilience of our communities and safeguard our land for future generation. Thank Mr. Chair, men. Thanks.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. Can we please have some technical support for Bangladesh?

Mr. Chair, excellencies, distinguished delegates, Bangladesh thanks the chair and the secretariat for preparing this important work ahead of CST17. As a densely populated country, Bangladesh is highly dependent on its land and natural resources. Land degradation is therefore not only an environmental concern for us, directly affects food security, livelihoods, water security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Bangladesh is one of the world's largest active deltas, and our experiences of land degradation differs from other world. Salinity is advancing into our coastal soils and agricultural lands. Riverbank erosion continues to displace communities, while the northwestern barren tract of Bangladesh experiences recurring seasonal drought and increasing aridity. These interconnected pressures require approaches that reflect the specific circumstances of vulnerable countries. Bangladesh has implemented its national action program to combat desertification, drought and land degradation, established land degradation neutrality targets and integrated sustainable land management and restoration into relevant national policies and programs. Mr. Chair, we particularly welcome the technical guidance on aridity and drought. For Bangladesh, there is a strong need for improved national and subnational drought monitoring, reliable aridity projections, early warning systems and science-based drought risk assessment. Finally, we encourage the CST and the Convention's partners to ensure that global guidance can be translated into country-level tools, datasets and decision support systems while fully considering national circumstances. Mr. Chair, we also encourage future guidance to recognize salinity intrusion and riverbank erosion as significant land degradation drivers in their own right, alongside aridity and drought. Thank you, I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Senegal.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, delegates, Senegal would like to express its profound gratitude to the government and people of Mongolia for their warm welcome and also to the UNCCD Secretariat for the quality of the documents submitted for our review. Mr. Chairman, we wish to hail the scientific clarity of the report which highlights the importance of aridity and drought, which are closely linked but are in fact separate. The combination of both phenomena is not simply restricted to biometric data. This is converted, reflected in a risk, the drying up of soil, which have a direct impact on water and land degradation and tensions when it comes to our socioeconomic balance. Senegal welcomes with great interest the new technical assistance, the hereditary and drought planning and drought resilience. And we advocate, we have been advocating in fact for a long time to put an end to the division of major environmental conventions. Meteorological alignment of national institutions which focus on land degradation and land neutrality when it comes to national adaptation plans under the Convention on Climate Change, but also on biodiversity and the Sendai Framework, are a strategic necessity. This makes it possible to avoid the duplication of efforts and strengthen the overall consistency of policies. Senegal has already undertaken specific actions and reaffirms its priorities when it comes to the sustainable land management and the Great Green Wall initiative, which is an African initiative, and also the strengthening of early warning systems and scientific tools. We also reaffirm our desire to collaborate actively with the committee and all parties for which the conclusions of the document are reflected in ambitious decisions. It is high time from coming to a management of crises to more of a proactive approach and to incorporate resilience and adaptation to drought and aridity. That's the first point. Senegal is willing to play its role within this joint dynamic. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Senegal. Due to time constraints, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate all speakers. We invite those who are unable to take the floor to participate and intervene in the subsequent meetings of the committee. I now invite the panellists to briefly respond to the questions and comments from the floor and to deliver short closing remarks. I request panellists to keep their interventions brief. I now give the floor to Mr. Baron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD. I will instead give the floor to Ms. Michelle Avarez, Vice Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology.

Thank you, Chair. Just some brief oversights from the presentations of the parties that I've heard some practical ways I believe in overcoming the challenges and barriers in national implementation I think we've all identified that developing countries um would not want to see duplication of plans while we embrace the recommendations of the report We would rather want to see, instead of creating new structures, we would want to see the continuous strengthening and better connection between coordination, planning, and reporting mechanisms that already exist. So in terms of international support, what would particularly be more valuable at this time is greater alignment among the conventions and partners in technical guidance, capacity building, data and monitoring requirements and importantly access to finance for implementation. The guide itself recognizes finance as a major constraint to sustaining adaptation action. international coherence can make national coherence easier, particularly for SIDS where many international obligations are already being managed by a relatively small pool of technical expertise. So we do embrace the recommendations of a high quality report and we would really be waiting in anticipation for our next steps for coordination. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Michelle Alvarez, Vice Chair of Committee on Science and Technology for the response. I now give the floor to Mr. Andrea Toretti, Member of the UNCCD Science Policy Interface.

Thank you. Just very shortly, I think based on the comments and intervention of all parties, there is an overall agreement on the role of science, but also on the need to boost innovation and efforts in developing approaches that are more integrated. but also approaches that can deal more effectively with the increasing pressure that drought and that they are putting on our societies and our economies. And also there is the need to integrate scientific innovations, scientific evidence with local knowledge. And this is something I think where science needs to invest more and and also leverage perhaps on emerging tools such as the ones given by artificial intelligence. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Andrea Toretti. I now give the floor to Ms. Marcella de Souza, Director of the Watershed Organization Trust Center for Resilience Studies.

I thank the House for having presented such a very integrated need for restoring the ecosystems and enhancing ecosystem health and its services by bringing the conventions together and the Sendai framework and the importance of looking at science to guide. I would just like to add a component that bringing in the different components, the different the interdisciplinary, the ministries and departments from different, from bringing in the departments together to work together from the top down, it's important also to integrate the bottom up perspective to bring in the resilience, to view the resilience, to enhance it and to strengthen the ecosystem services going forward. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Souza for the response. I now give the floor to Mr. Baron Joseph Ord, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD.

Thank you, Chair, and thank everyone for really outstanding interventions that were very helpful for the process. I will just...

My apologies, I have missed Lisa Hartman. I'd like to now give the floor to Ms. Lisa Hartman to respond. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. On behalf of all authors and contributors of the report, I want to thank the distinguished representatives for their comments and acknowledge the points that were raised specifically when it comes to making sure that the guide is flexible to adjust to local needs and the national level, to propose joint indicators to facilitate better monitoring across the conventions and the SD framework, and to reflect on experiences and success stories of countries for mutual learning. Many of these points are touched upon in the report where we also suggest further exploring the potential of joint indicators and also show how this guide can adapt to national needs. And I would pass to the Secretariat for further comments.

I thank Ms. Lisa Hartmann for the response and pass to Mr. Baron Joseph Orr.

So again, I just very, very, as a chief scientist listening to what was said is music to my ears. Across the board among these interventions, very important steps in the right direction in my view. And I comment specifically on some of the comments which were in many of the interventions on the emphasis on early warning system and everything around early warning systems. I will point out that this guidance gives a sense of the different contributions to those early warning systems that can come from these different frameworks. And I think that is something that entities that have been central to the global effort for common early warning systems that you can build off of at the national level at WMO, UNDRR, et cetera, I think that has been very well heard. The second aspect that I wanted to comment on is related to the many interventions about how important it is that this gets translated at the national level. And the idea here is that the door is open because it's very clear now at the global level how these align, making that opportunity to ensure that it is aligned at the national level. much more easy because it links to those frameworks, and that then allows response to national circumstances. It certainly is the entire intent of the report, so it's fully supported also by the Secretariat. And with respect to a number of comments related to resource mobilization, I wanted to remind you all that on Tuesday, I think it's Is it the morning? Morning? It's on Tuesday, the 18th of August. The resource mobilization document presented by the Global Mechanism and a related document from the JEF will be considered in the CRIC. These are documents CRIC 2 with a draft decision CRIC 5. and the INF-1, so they are highly relevant. So all of those comments where they will have potential for negotiation is tied to that document. Thank you, Chair.

I thank Mr. Orr for the response, and I thank the panelists for their responses and closing remarks. I'd like to pass the floor back to Mr. Orr.

My apologies, I missed a page. I also wanted to respond to the intervention by the honorable delegate from Ukraine to make sure that you're aware that this has been noted and will be brought to the attention of those involved in the consultations on this matter. Thank you.

Thank you. I would also like to thank the participants for their valuable questions, comments, and contributions. This concludes our interactive dialogue. The committee has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 3C. Distinguished delegates, due to time constraints, the consideration of agenda item 3A entitled knowledge sharing, technology transfer and innovation will now take place this afternoon at 3:00 PM in this room. This will be followed immediately by the consideration of agenda item four entitled Future Functioning of the Science-Policy Interface. Further information on the programme for CST17 and related meetings is available on the conference website and on the UNCCD app. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you.